Leveling device for furniture and the like



Feb. 3, 1959 H. c. SUNDELL 2,871,616

LEVELING DEVICE FOR FURNITURE AND THE LIKE Filed July 25, 1957 IN VE NTOR.

' putty within the leveling alignment with a venient in application,

Unite LEVELING DEVICE FUR FURNITURE AND THE LIKE Harold C. Sundell, Hollywood, Fla., assignor to Frank J. Curran, Downers Grove, lll.

My invention relates to a leveling device for furniture and the like, and more specifically, to a device for attachment to the ends of furniture legs, props, or supports, such as, for instance, th'e legs of tables and chairs, to eliminate tilting or rocking when the furniture rests on or against an uneven oor or other supporting surface.

Conventional devices of this type employ a container or receptacle containing a quantity of a highly viscous substance, such as bouncing putty, which, when the device is interposed between the end of a table leg or the like and its supporting surface, is acted on by a piston that applies the weight of the furniture to the putty. The application of weight to the putty causes the putty to slowly deform and ow whereby a reduction in the effective length of the device, and thus of the furniture leg to which the device is attached, is achieved. When a piece of furniture having one of these devices secured to the end of each leg rests on an uneven floor, at least one of the legs, if the piece of furniture is a four-legged piece of furniture, will initially not contact the iioor, with the familiar tilting and rocking action resulting. The weight of the-furniture on the remaining legs causes a slow ow of the bouncing devices that carry a disproportionate part of the weight, with a consequent shortening of their elfective lengths, and thereby permit all of the legs to contact the oor, whereby the rocking and tilting action is eliminated.

However, conventional leveling devices of this type do not permit the oor contacting portions thereof to tilt for floor surface that is canted with respect to a furniture leg, surface is a frequent occurrence where these devices are used. Moreover, they frequently are not adequately sealed against leakage and their shapes make them difficult to keep clean. p A principal object of my invention is to provide a leveling device which eliminates the conventional piston arrangement and permits the device to accommodate itself to canted surfaces.

A further object of the invention is to provide a leveling device that is redaily attached to the legs of chairs, tables, cabinets, machinery, and the like without extensive modiiication of the leg structure.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a leveling device that is readily adapted for a wide range of uses as a compensating device between the end of a prop or brace member that is used to support the load, and the surface against which the prop or braced member is to bear, thus eliminating the necessity for the exact alignment and squaring off of such members with respect to said supporting surfaces.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a f leveling device that is of streamlined shape and completely sealed against leakage.

Still another object of the invention is to leveling device which is economical of manufacture, conand highly eicient and long wearing in use,

and consequently marring of the floor 'a provide a Zll Patented Feb. 3, 1959 Other objects, uses, and advantages will be obvious or become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the application drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmental perspective View showing the lower portions of the legs of the table or the like illus tratng a preferred embodiment of my invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a vertical cross section through the lower end of one of the table legs shown in Figure l as well as the leveling device that is attached thereto, illustrating the appearance of the various elements of the device when the leg is spaced somewhat from the oor;

Figure 3 is a View similar to that of Figure 2 illustrating the various elements of the device when the leg rests or bears on a canted floor surface;

Figure 4 is a fragmental elevational view of a modified form of the device shown applied to the end of a chair les;

Figure 4a is a perspective view of an appropriate device for nailing the invention of Figure 4 to a furniture leg; and

Figure 5 is an elevational view of the device of Figure 2 shown applied between the end of a generally horizontally disposed prop and a canted generally vertical supporting surface.

Referring rst to Figures l through 3, reference numeral 10 generally indicates a preferred' embodiment of the invention applied to the ends of each furniture leg 12 which are assumed to support a table or chair but may be assumed to support any other similar form of structure, suchy as a cabinet, a machine, or any other device employing four legs as a support.

As seen in Figure 2, each device 10 comprises a pair of cup shaped members 14 that are positioned on either side of a diaphragm member 16. The cup-shaped members 14 may be formed from an appropriate resiliently liexible material such as rubber or rubber like substances, and each member 16 includes an annular circumambient rim portion 15 that projects laterally and outwardly of the respective members 14. The diaphragm member 16 is a. relatively thin member that may be formed from any appropriate relatively rigid or hard substance, such as sheet metal or plastic, and includes a central perforation or vent 20. The diaphragm is proportioned to be received between rims 15 of members 14.

The members 14 and 16 thus form a pair of compartments or chambers 22 and 24 which are placed in communication by the perforation or vent 20 of the diaphragm member.

The lower member 14 is preferably formed with a relatively fiat end portion 26 which may be annular in configuration and which carries in the illustrated embodiment a glider member 28. A conical or spiral helical compression spring 3l) is interposed between the diaphragm member 16 and the portion 26 of the lower cup-shaped member 14.

Compartments 22 and 24 are lled or substantially filled with the substance known in the trade as bouncing putty. Bouncing putty is a solid elastic product of a reaction between a silicone oil and a compound of boron, such `as, for example, boric acid, with the addition of a filler, such as lithopone. Bouncing putty deforms slowly under the slightest force, like a very viscous liquid, but it resists sudden forces as if it were a solid. It will not flow quickly, but when placed in a container, it will spread out merely under its own weight and eventually cover the bottom of the container.

The device 10 includes a generally cup shaped housing member 32 which includes a circumambient rim portion 34 that is formed during assembly of the device to clamp the rims 15 of members 14 Iagainst diaphragm member 16.

When the device l@ is not under stress, the elements thereof appearrsubstantially asy shown vin Figure 2, wherein the lower surface 36 ofglider member..28.isfshown spaced-above the surface 38 of ythetloor upon which legs 12 are adapted to rest.

In the embodiment of Figures l `through 3, thedevice 10 is applied to a table leg 12 by forminga recess 40 in the end of the leg and bonding the housing member?. to the leg material dening this recess in any suitable mannen-as byappropriate adhesives or the like.

IWhen a table or chair including legs v12 having :devices 1l) applied thereto is rst placed o-n anunevenwoor that ,includes 4canted surface, the weightof the piece of furniture is supported principally upon two diagonally opposed legs. vSince legs for tables, chairs, andthe'like are ordinarily all of the same length, when the surface 38 is irregular or a portion thereof is canted (as-shown Figure 2), ordinarily oneof the legs V12 will be spaced above the door somewhat as shown in Figure y2, which means that without the device 10 applied to each leg, the piece of furniture wouldtilt or rock back and forth on two diagonally opposed legs. The weight of the piece of furniture is thus disproportionately applied to these two diagonally opposed legs, which will initially cause the bouncing putty in chamber 24 of the'devices 10 secured to these legs to flow upwardly through perforation 2t) of diaphragm member 16 into chamber 22. This process continues until the weight of the piece of furniture is substantially equally distributed over the four legs y12, during which time the lower members 14 flex suciently to permit all of the glider members 28 to be Hush with the surface of the iloor. This tends to distort the tlexible members 14 of the devices 10 somewhat as indicated in Figure 3, the upper member 14 bulging somewhat and the lower member 14 partially collapsing.

In this condition, the devices 1t) will support the table or chair having legs 12 indefinitely, the devices 1l) insur- 'ing that the familiar tilting or rocking action is-eliminated.

When the table or chair is lifted from the supporting surface 38, spring 30 urges portion 26 of the lower member 14 away from diaphragm member 16 to restore the devices rllto the position of Figure 2. The excess bouncing putty that has passed to chamber 22 is restored to chamber 24 by the resilience of the material forming upper member 14.

If the chair or table that includes legs 12 is again applied to a canted or uneven supporting surface, the

to provide a steady Where the supportleveling action again repeats itself support for the .piece of furniture. ing surface is initially level, some putty ilowage will occur, but -it will be uniform for all the devices 10 carried by the particular piece of furniture.

In the embodiment of Figure 4, a device 10a is illustrated which vis identical to the device 1li except that it has secured to the housing member 32 a nail or tack shank h, .which Vis driven tothe end of the leg 12. A tool such as that indicated in Figure 4a may be remployed to drive nail 50 into leg 12, annular member 51 being applied against rim 34 of the housing and a-hammer heingapplied to the end 52 of handle 53.

In the-embodiment of Figure 5, a device is applied between a generally horizontally disposed brace 55 and a substantially vertical but slightly canted surface 56. The prop S5 may be braced between a piece of machinery or a refrigerator or the like that is positioned adjacent a Wall 5S 'of a building. The housing 32 of the device 10 in Figure 5 may be alhxed to theend 60 of prop or brace 55 by an appropriate adhesive.

Assuming that the piece of machinery or refrigerator or the like bears against the wall S8 through brace 55, the` device 10 of Figure 5 will be distorted somewhat as the like, regardless of shown, but will adequately transmit and support the load desired.

One of the principal advantages of my invention is that the flexible members 14 permit the portion 26 and the glider 28 carried thereby to tilt with respect to the remainder of the device and rest evenly on a canted or inclined supporting oor surface.

The devi-ces 1@ and 10a thusk provide a uniform and steady support for the piece of furniture, machinery, or how uneven a door or other su porting surface may be.

The streamlined shape ofthe illustratedilembodiments makes the device easy to clean-and dust. The invention will not gather strings or cords from floor mops or the like, and is completely sealed against putty leakage by the clamping action of housing rim 34 on rims 15 of the cup shaped members 14.

If it is found desirable to slide a table or the .like across a door, a good portion of the noise vinvolved is absorbed by the devices 10 and 10a. VIf'the piece'of furniture is to bepermanently mounted, the device`10 or 10a may be cemented or otherwise afl'ixed tothe lloo'r surface. The glider member 28, Vthe lower surface "of whi-ch is usually substantially smooth and of the"anti friction type, may be eliminated, in which case thematerial from whichthe lower member'll-is'formed will oppose sliding movement.

The material from which 'the glider member 28'is made is optional though metallic and plastic substances are contemplated. In damp climates the substance employed should be `of' they rust proof type.

The proportions and thickness of the material forming members 14 as well as the resilience of these members and of spring'-3'll and the size of vent 20- may be varied to provide the particular operating characteristics Vdesired for a device 10. In some instances, a greater flexibility with a larger volume of puttyflow may be desirable, while in others, -a greater stiffness Witha lesser volume of putty flow ,may be preferred.

The foregoing description and the drawingsareggiven merely to explain and illustrate my invention, landV "the invention is not to be limited thereto, except in` so -far asl the appended claims are so limited, sincethose skilled in the art who have my disclosure before them will'be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope ofthe invention.

In the appended claims, the term furniture andthe like is intended to mean tables, chairs, machinery, cabinets, work benches, and all other structures havingflegs, struts,A props, or the like which bear against asurface to support or brace a load.

1 claim:

l. A leveling device for furniture and the'like comprising a `tlexible sealed container-having a relatively dat end portion, a .diaphragm member mounted in said container and separating said containerinto compartments, said diaphragm member extendinggenerallyy parallel to said llat end portion and being formed with a perforation that places said compartments -in communication with each other, resilient means acting on said container and biasing said-dat end portion away fromisaid diaphragm member, said Acompartments being substantially filled with bouncing putty.

2. A leveling device for furniture 'and the like comprising a flexible sealed container having a relatively Vflat end portion, a diaphragm member mounted in saidcontainer and separating-said container into compartments, said diaphragm member extending generally parallel to said tlat end rportion and being formed with a vcentral perforation that places said compartments in communication with each other, helical spring means interposed between said diaphragm member and said dat endgportion and biasing .said at end portion awayfrom said diaphragm member, said compartments being 'substantiallyiilled with bouncing putty.

3. A leveling device adapted to be secured to the end of a furniture leg or the like comprising a exible sealed container having a relatively at end portion, a diaphragm member mounted in said container and separating said container into two compartments, said diaphragm member extending generally parallel to said flat end portion and being formed with a perforation that places said compartments in communication with each other, helical spring means interposed between said diaphragm member and said at end portion and biasing said flat end portion away from said diaphragm member, said compartments being substantially iilled with bouncing putty, a rigid housing in which said container is mounted, said flat end portion of said container extending outwardly of said housing, and means for securing said housing to the furniture leg.

4. A levelling device adapted to be secured to the end of a furniture leg or the like comprising a diaphragm member, a iiexible cup shaped member positioned on either side of said diaphragm member, each of said cup shaped members including a rim portion that is placed in contact with said diaphragm member, whereby said diaphragm member and said cup shaped members form a pair of spaced compartments, said diaphragm member being perforated to place said compartments in communication with each other, one of said cup shaped members being formed with a relatively flat end portion, a dished housing memberl being received about the other of said cup shaped members and including means for clamping said cup shaped lmembers against said diaphragm, helical compression spring means interposed between the flat end portion of said one cup shaped member and said diaphragm, each of said compartments being substantially filled with bouncing putty, and means for securing said housing member to the furniture leg.

5. A leveling device adapted to be secured to the end of a furniture leg or the like comprising a diaphragm member, a flexible cup shaped member positioned on either side of said diaphragm member, said cup shaped members each including a circumambient rim portion that projects laterally thereof, said rim portions being placed in contact with said diaphragm member, whereby said diaphragm member and said cup shaped members form a pair of spaced compartments, said diaphragm member being perforated to place said compartments in communication with each other, one of said cup shaped members being formed with a relatively at end portion, a dished housing member being received about the other of said cup shaped members, said housing member including a circumambient rim portion clamped about said rim portions of said cup shaped members and said diahelical compression spring means interposed between said at end portion of said one cup shaped member and said diaphragm, each of said compartments being substantially filled with bouncing putty, and means for securing said housing member to the furniture leg.

6. A leveling device adapted to be interposed between the ends of furniture legs or the like and the supporting surface against which the funriture bears comprising a flexible sealed container substantially filled with bouncing putty, said container being formed with a relatively flat end portion and comprising a pair of compartments in restricted communication with each other, said bouncing putty being received in said compartments, said device being attached to the end of a furniture leg or the like to place said at end portion in contact with the supporting surface against which the furniture bears, whereby, the bouncing putty ows between said compartments under the action of the force transmitted to the supp0rting surface through the device, and if said surface is canted with respect to the furniture leg, said container exes to permit said flat end portion to rest iiush against the canted supporting surface.

7. A leveling device for furniture and the like comprising a resiliently flexible sealed container substantially filled with bouncing putty, said container comprising a pair of juxtaposed compartments in restricted communication with each other, one of said compartments being at an end portion of the container, said bouncing putty being received in said compartments, resilient means acting on said container to bias said end portion outwardly of the device, means for securing the device to the furniture or the like with said end portion thereof projecting away from the furniture or the like, and rigid means for shielding the other container from external compressive forces, said rigid means being proportioned to permit expansion of said other container, whereby, when said end portion of the device is pressed against a supporting surface, the bouncing putty ows between said compartments to effect contraction of said one compartment and expansion of said other compartment, said resilient means on release of pressure on the device effecting restoration of said one compartment to its initial size, the compressive 4action of said container on the bouncing putty in said other compartment causing a reverse flow of the bouncing putty between said compartments.

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References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,798,272 Phillips Mar. 31, 1931 2,704,663 Blake Mar. 22, 1955 2,756,016 Painter July 24, 1956 

